Doctor in Letby case named after anonymity order lifted

The doctor described as Lucy Letby's 'boyfriend' during her murder trial can now be identified as Mark Deakin, who died in July aged 53, according to reports.

Earlier protected by a court anonymity order, the restriction has now been lifted. Deakin worked alongside Letby, now 36, at the Countess of Chester Hospital during 2015 and 2016, the period in which she murdered seven babies and attempted to murder six others.

After leaving the hospital, he continued his medical career and later became a consultant at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

There have been reports that Deakin died shortly after learning he had been sacked for breaching patient confidentiality in text message exchanges with Letby. It is understood that he had been unwell. An inquest into the circumstances of his death is to be opened, according to reports.

Deakin's personal interactions with Letby were revealed during the Thirlwall inquiry into how the murders were able to take place. The inquiry heard that the pair had exchanged more than 1,000 Facebook messages and that Deakin helped Letby secure a placement at Alder Hey Hospital after she was suspected of murdering babies. Deakin told the inquiry he had been "misled" and "maybe manipulated" by Letby, and that he was tricked into giving her information about babies she had attacked. He added it "had been a massive mistake" to help Letby and said he had "a lot of regrets."

The inquiry is due to publish its findings on 15 September.

Trial Testimony and Denials

Letby, who has always maintained her innocence, is serving 15 whole life prison terms. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is conducting a review of her convictions.

At her criminal trial, the longest in UK history, Deakin gave evidence in relation to several babies. He was granted special measures including anonymity, allowing him to testify from behind a screen, hidden from Letby, the public, and the media.

When Deakin was first called to testify, Letby burst into tears, a moment not seen earlier in the trial. The prosecuting barrister, Nick Johnson KC, told the court that Letby "tried to get out the back of the dock" when the doctor came to the witness box. She replied: "Yes, because I felt unwell." Johnson responded: "No, it's because you didn't like hearing your boyfriend giving evidence, did you?" Letby called that "unfair," adding "There was nothing between me and that Mark."

A broader perspective

While this incident became notable, Deakin was one of many former work colleagues whose combined testimony contributed to the prosecution case, according to court accounts reported. The focus on his emotions during testimony should not be taken as the only basis for the verdict, as none of the convictions rested on his evidence alone.